The NHL, the sports world, and society at large have waded into uncharted waters with the growing outbreak of COVID-19 spurring waves of cancellations and postponements in an effort to limit the impact of the virus.
For the hockey world, that meant an unprecedented suspension of play, halting the NHL’s 2019-20 campaign as teams were heading into the home stretch of the season and gearing up for the playoffs. It’s new ground for all, with fans, media, and all involved in the inner workings of the league waiting to see what comes next.
It’s been an especially odd experience for the players, who’ve seen their year-long hunt for playoff hockey stopped on a dime.
“Everyone’s just waiting, the same way we were,” former NHL defender and current Nashville Predators analyst Hal Gill said on Sportsnet 590’s Good Show on Friday. “No one’s really been through this, you know — we don’t know what to expect and how this works, so guys are just waiting.
“…It’s kind of an empty feeling, I think, for the players. You know, you’re in a playoff hunt and then all of a sudden it’s just a screeching halt.”
Gill, who logged 16 years in the big leagues has had his fair share of unique hockey experiences in his time. But the former Stanley Cup champ says what’s happening now is unlike anything he’s seen in the game.
“We’ve all been through those moments when you’re waiting to see if a game gets cancelled because of snow or ice or whatever the storm is — it’s kind of like that, but then it’s just final. Then it’s over, there’s no anything after it,” he told the Good Show crew. “So, getting off the plane, the guys were just looking around going, ‘What do we do?’ They’re not supposed to go out and do anything, they’re supposed to stay home.
“They have nothing to prepare for, which is bizarre for an NHL player — usually you have like two weeks at the end of a season where you can kind of let loose, but other than that, you’re always preparing for something. So, this is weird for these guys.”
The NHL announced its “pause” of the 2019-20 season on Thursday, with a timeline yet to be determined and likely fluid given the nature of the COVID-19 situation. It’s unclear at the moment what exactly happens when the league does return, and how that might impact the 2020 post-season.
Listen to Hal Gill’s full interview with Sportsnet 590’s Good Show on the current situation facing the league via the audio player embedded within this post.
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